Jenkins’ Goal Seconds into Overtime Buries Catamounts

Junior Katelin Wahl started against Vermont on Sunday and scored against Brown on Saturday, contributing to the team’s current four-game winning streak. The visiting team captured the lead in the 50th minute, but the Crimson responded six minutes later and won the match in overtime.

After beating Brown on Saturday, the Harvard field hockey team (6-3, 2-1 Ivy) won in stunning fashion, defeating Vermont (6-6, 0-1 America East), 2-1, in overtime.

Though regulation was filled with strong defensive play, the overtime period was over just as soon as it started. Only 37 seconds into the extra period, the Crimson broke through the Catamount defense to score the final tally.

Angling her way across the top of the circle, Harvard freshman midfielder Sydney Jenkins sent a reverse shot towards the net. After deflecting off of a Vermont defender, the ball sailed into the net, and the Crimson rushed the field in victory.

“I wasn’t sure if it went in, so I was just kind of looking around,” Jenkins said. “It was kind of a blur. [It was] so exciting, but definitely a team effort.”

The play resulted from a strong pass by freshman midfielder Caitlyn Rea, who gave Jenkins the chance to use her quickness to dart past a Catamount defender.

Both teams struggled to get solid opportunities at the goal in the first half, but Harvard managed to keep the ball on the Vermont side of the field.

There were a couple centering feeds that resulted in goal-scoring chances, but many times, the ball flew wide left or right.

Catamount sophomore goalie Stephanie Zygmunt was stellar, as she deflected every ball sent her way. The Crimson managed seven shots on goal in the first half compared to Vermont’s three, but Zygmunt held her ground using her padding to fend off potential Harvard goals.

The Crimson’s defense prevented the Catamounts from generating any substantial scoring opportunities in the first half.

As a result, the game was a stalemate, 0-0, going into the break.

“Vermont is a very talented and athletic team,” Harvard coach Sue Caples said. “That was a very tactical game, a very skillful game between teams that complement each other very well.”

In the second half, the game opened up a little bit for the Crimson as it generated a host of chances.

Harvard put 15 shots on goal, and generated eight penalty corners, but time after time, Zygmunt made the key stops to keep the Crimson off the scoreboard.

The Catamounts were able to tally the first goal when Vermont junior forward Taylor Silvestro scored on a second-chance opportunity, scooping the ball into the back of the net as she fell to the ground.

Harvard was able to respond quickly, scoring six minutes later on a penalty corner.